Where Are They Now? Updates on Businesses for Sale

Where Are They Now?
Here's an update, from the September 2000 issue of Inc. magazine, on the companies featured in Inc. magazine's Business for Sale column from April 1999 through March 2000. Click on a company's name to view the original profile.

Company: Texas minichain of pizzeriasDate featured April 1999Annual sales: $1.8 millionAsking price: $705,000Number of inquiries: 10 to 15Result: Several deals stalled because the seller refused to sign a noncompete agreement.

Company: Rocky Mountain window cleanersDate featured: August 1999Annual sales: $556,000Asking price: $439,000Number of inquiries: 25 to 30Result: Sold in September for $430,000 to someone who read an advertisement in the local newspaper.

Company: Southeastern retailer of nautical books and chartsDate featured: September 1999Annual sales: $3.9 millionAsking price: $2.25 millionNumber of inquiries: 498Result: Received three offers and was sold to an Inc. reader in February for $2.5 million.

Company: Business-to-business Web siteDate featured: October 1999Annual sales: $123,000Asking price: $229,000Number of inquiries: About 200Result: Sold to a customer (before the article appeared) for the asking price.

Company: Texas liquor retailer and wholesalerDate featured: November 1999Annual sales: $6.8 millionAsking price: $3.75 millionNumber of inquiries: 100Result: A $3 million deal fell through in February; revenues have dropped to $4 million; the company is still on the market at a reduced price of $2.5 million.

Company: Mid-Atlantic vending routeDate featured: February 2000Annual sales: $450,000Asking price: $490,000Number of inquiries: About 15Result: Still on the market.

Company: Payroll service and software developerDate featured: March 2000Annual sales: $450,000Asking price: $2.1 millionNumber of inquiries: 42Result: In May the company sold its customer list to a competitor for $900,000; rights to software are still on the market for $1 million.